How the OPEN Foundation makes battery collection future-ready
The Dutch OPEN Foundation (Organisation for Producer Responsibility for E-waste Netherlands) works to make e-waste, discarded lamps and batteries circular. Together with its partners, the organisation collects, recycles, lobbies and educates, helping producers and chain partners meet their recycling targets. Through Wecycle, the OPEN Foundation encourages consumers and companies to hand in e-waste and empty batteries at thousands of collection points across the Netherlands.
The challenge: lithium batteries
The rapid increase of lithium batteries has significantly raised safety risks during collection, storage and transport. The OPEN Foundation recognised early on that traditional plastic drums and containers no longer met safety and durability requirements. At the same time, Bebat, responsible for battery collection and recycling in Belgium, faced the same challenge.
A safer alternative with Bebat PRO
When Bebat developed its own metal solutions and made them commercially available through Bebat PRO, OPEN Foundation decided to invest. The metal drums and steel ASP containers stood out for their focus on safety, combining a patented overpressure lid with a flame arresting filter to regulate pressure and prevent flames from escaping in case of an internal fire.
Why Bebat PRO
OPEN Foundation selected Bebat PRO because the solutions are tested in real-life collection operations, offer long-term durability, and are easy to use for collection partners. Compared to plastic alternatives, the metal designs reduce damage, operational risks and replacement costs.
The drums include an internal coating to prevent short circuits. Optional smart lids add fill-level detection and temperature monitoring, enabling safer and more automated battery collection. Close collaboration led to further improvements, including a 62-litre drum for e-bike batteries and a custom insertion lid.
Rolling out across the network
OPEN Foundation plans to gradually replace existing equipment with steel drums at 25,000 collection sites and metal ASP containers for waste collectors, taking a decisive step towards a future-proof battery collection system.
Bebat PRO is a true partner: their metal drums and steel ASP containers bring a new safety standard to lithium battery collection. And with the rollout across our 25,000 collection sites, we're taking a decisive step towards a future-proof battery collection system.
Pieter Bremmer
OPEN Foundation
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